Great Barrier Reef volledige dag avontuur

It is a long day with a brief snorkle time due to the cold and thin stinger suits provided and in a limited area with poor variety of fish life and poor corals, compared to other options. If you have never snorkelled, you will probably think it is fabulous. But if you have snorkled elsewhere on the reef you will know how poor this dive is. Dont bother paying $85 per person extra for the snorkle safari. You get dropped off 100m from the pontoon and swim back. You need to rush to get a seat on the pontoon. They go quickly. The semi-submersible would have to be the dullest underwater viewing ride ever. Dirty water, few fish, generally poor variety of corals, compared to elswhere

Terrible, nothing works at all.

Journey to Hardy Reef about 6 hours return very long A Ponton in the middle of the UNESCO nature heritage site with hundreds of people - what a bad idea! I asked myself afterwards why such a "Tourist machinery" is allowed out there. Snorkling and diving is everything else than the great experience you expect, because the visibility is very bad (it was not a problem of the weather!). What's more is the state of the reef, mostly dead corals, poor variety of fish, no colour, all blue and grey. No wonder if you go into the water with so many people at the same time! I did two dives and I confirm what others stated, then, the time is too short. We had our lunch in a big hurry. After the 2nd dive, we had to rush as the boat was already waiting for the return trip. Normal procedures that one knows from excellent diving operators are not in place (e.g. diving health certificate of no interest, the presentation of snorkling and diving equipment on the boat was a bit like a clown's performance, funny, but true seriosity definitely missing). I took a small photo package, because one of the diving guides mentioned it would contain photos of our dive, not only our personal photo. When I received the link, I looked at photos from the reef, beaches, fish, that you can find anywhere on the internet, again something that was not worth the money. Still trying to receive my money back from Cruise Whitsundays. It was not possible within the last 5 months!!! Conclusion: this excursion is a pure tourist trap and is not worth the hundreds of Dollars at all. Avoid it if you want to prevent yourself from disappointment! Look for a smaller, but qualified operator that takes you to the reef in a small group.

We went on the reef with Cruise Whitsundays and reef safari as part of the famil days and it was amazing! Had the opportunity of diving for the first time ever, with a warm team that takes care of everything from beginning to end, making sure that everybody is safe and feeling great. Also did the snorkeling tour which I recommend if you are interested on knowing more about the reef. The food is really good, the organization is clear as they make sure of explaining the whole journey on the way to the pontoon. An unforgettable experience with the best crew possible!

We went in June with our family including 2 elementary school aged kids. It was very well organized with reminders and booking was accurate. We chose the shuttle from our hotel and everything was fairly punctual. We stayed on Airlie Beach, so we needed to get off to transfer vessels at Hamilton Island. Each transfer one-way is about a 3-hour boat ride, with 40 minutes in open water which is the most rocky. We generally did very well except on our way back we were starting to feel a bit sick near the end of the 40 minute stretch but managed to do ok! The transfer to the reef didn't feel long b/c they were constantly giving you briefings about what to expect and the experiences that you can do for free or book for extra cost. They feed you really well with morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Lunch is basic enough but they did have unlimited peel and eat shrimp - and the shrimp in Whitsundays is so yummy and fresh. We got about a relaxed 3 hours on the pontoon - its a new one actually that just opened the week we were there. It has two-level seating, one level with all the snorkel gear and suits and life jackets, etc. You eat and pee on the boat which is anchored and planked easily accessible on the pontoon. We docked around 11:10am, and decided to do the submarine ride first since we were try. This is totally worth it especially for those who don't plan on swimming. You pretty much get the same view as snorkeling without going into the water. Then we had lunch, and then geared up for snorkeling. They provide stinger suits, life jackets, pool noodles, fins, masks. There weren't enough wet suits so they restricted that to those who were scuba diving. You are allowed to dive without PADI because they can take you 1:1. The area for snorkeling is quite massive - so you don't have to do a snorkel safari to feel the vast ocean and reef. The entry area is easy - there's a bench to sit on to get your gear together before lowering yourself into the water. Water temperature was cool but comfortable - my kids didn't last that long though because they still complained it was cold (about 24C in the water). After snorkeling, we dried off and had a snack and then went to look at the underwater section on the pontoon. It's cool but not much to see down there as its not really close to the reef. The submarine ride shows you more. We had to return to the boat around 2:45pm. My husband's only feedback was that it would have been nice to have someone with marine biology knowledge on board to give some education talks. But otherwise - it is a well oiled/engined production that clearly knows its audience and feels safe. I would recommend - once in a lifetime experience.

Communication and organization of the day activities is key and they were spot on making the day just seam effortless including transfers, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Very professional in every way and went out of the their way to make it a memorable pleasure (not easy to do every day). The coral and fish are worth the experience and give scuba a go, they are so good even for first timers (all ages), I’m 72.

We last year had the incredible opportunity to visit the Great Barrier Reef with Cruise Whitsundays from Airlie Beach, and it was nothing short of magical. From the moment we boarded, the crew and staff were exemplary — warm, welcoming, and genuinely invested in making every guest feel safe, comfortable, and excited. Whether it was navigating the open sea (which can challenge even the strongest stomachs!) or helping guests with their gear and guided snorkel tours, the team consistently went the extra mile. They were not just courteous, but proactively attentive, offering ginger tablets, words of reassurance, and constant smiles. The guided experiences were particularly impressive — informative, fun, and designed to ensure that everyone, from first-timers to seasoned swimmers, could enjoy the reef to its fullest. Their love for the reef and their work was evident and deeply infectious. A huge shoutout to the Cruise Whitsundays team for turning a bucket-list destination into a memory we will cherish forever. If you're heading to the Whitsundays, this is the team you want beside you.

We had the most amazing experience on our Whitsunday cruise introductory scuba dive, all thanks to our instructor Dan (the blonde one!). My girlfriend Bec and I were complete beginners, and while I took to it fairly quickly, Bec initially struggled with adjusting to the breathing through the tank. Dan was absolutely incredible—so patient, calm, and genuinely supportive. He took the time to reassure her, explained everything clearly, and never once rushed us, which made all the difference. Thanks to him, Bec was able to relax and enjoy the experience. Once we got going, it was honestly unforgettable. The views were spectacular—beautiful reefs and so many incredible fish. It felt like stepping into a completely different world. To top it all off, we had the opportunity to purchase photos at the end, and they turned out brilliant—such a great way to remember the experience. Couldn’t recommend Dan and the whole experience enough. Perfect for beginners and such a highlight of our trip! 🌊🐠

The staff were professional, and attentive. Great service despite the rough waves today. Thanks for the great experience!

Pros: • The reef is beautiful and the variety of fish and marine life is breathtaking. • The catamaran clean and has good facilities Cons: • The pontoon is showing its age. It’s giving oil derrick vibes, not luxury pontoon next to a world beauty spot. • Very expensive for what you get. The level of attempted upselling by the staff became quite irritating. I’m already spending €200 per person, stop trying to get more money out of me (even photographs cost extra). • Food was mediocre. • Snorkeling felt borderline unsafe. Staff more interested in chatting then ensuring costumers felt at ease in the water. You could get a staff members devoted attention in the water as part of a ‘snorkel safari’ but of course that cost more. • The crossing to the reef can be quite rough, resulting in a lot of costumers getting seasick. Seasick costumers got no sympathy from staff and were treated as a burden. • Staff member Damien was incredibly unprofessional. On journey back to the port while conditions were rough, I overheard this staff member referring to another passenger as a ‘dumb bitch’ and a ‘stupid bitch’ for having the temerity of saying she was disappointed with the trip. This was met with giggles by the marine biologist on board (who’s name I didn’t catch) and First Mate Regan. If I was Damien’s manager I would have fired him on the spot, an utterly horrible human being. Overall I was very disappointed by what was a very expensive experience. Much better options available in Airlie, only choose this company if you’re desperate.